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Deadlock > Wolves > Reviews > Justin_Bork
Deadlock - Wolves

Three amazing songs, Eight snorefests - 50%

Justin_Bork, March 12th, 2007

When I first heard about this album, I thought "Oh great, another Deadlock album, good riffs set to be ruined by lame female vocals", well I was right for the most part. This album features three really great songs, easily some of the best the band has done to this point, but the eight surrounding songs are basically filler when you place them next to those great ones.

Before the album came out, Deadlock announced 'Sabine' joined as a full-time member of the band, and thinking of the results of Earth.Revolt, I figured 'alright, they're done, she ruined that album'. She over-sang and when a singer over dramatizes their parts, it just kills it. However, on Wolves, she's actually VERY good and the album being lame is not her fault whatsoever. Her parts on the album are usually the best parts of a given song. What ruins the songs are the horrible attempts at being 'Progressive', such as epic battle ambiance, some very un-necessary song lengths, and the worst of all, some full blown Trance break in one of the songs. It's so embarrasing to listen to some of this stuff. Deadlock needs a lesson from their fellow Germans 'Fear My Thoughts' latest album on how to play with prog.

The good however, the three shining songs on this album, extremely catchy and very well written. No faux-prog bullshit on these songs, just 4 minute, short breaths of good song writing, and best of all Sabine's great singing. She can really belt out, and it's backed by good HEAVY music, no nu-metal or Goth, (Lacuna Coil/Tristania ect) It's very refreshing to hear a female vocalist sing in a band thats not filtered towards goth sensibilities.

Deadlock have sooooo much potential. So much it hurts me to rate this album so low, but three amazing songs out of eleven is a horrible ratio. Hopefully on their next bout, they cut down on the attempts at being varied and just go with what they know, short catchy metal songs, because if 'Code of Honor' is any proof, they definetly have the skills and them some. This song could have come from any veteran of the Swedish Gothenburg scene in terms of song writing.

In the end, if you're a fan of Modern Soilwork/In Flames/Disarmonia Mundi this album would be a good bet for you to check out, maybe you like prog more than I do, whatever.

Recommended Listening: "We Shall All Bleed" "Code of Honor" "Dark Cell"